REFORMERS
Developing and realizing Renewable Energy Valleys to increase energy security while accelerating the green transition in Europe.
Goal
REFORMERS focuses on the development, realization and rollout of Renewable Energy Valleys in Europe. In these Renewable Energy Valleys there is a place for several renewable energy carriers – such as electricity, heat, hydrogen and biomethane – which are optimally integrated into the energy system. Thereby, the focus within REFORMERS is on the entire chain from production – through storage, conversion and distribution – to optimal end use of these energy carriers. With the realization and wider rollout of these Renewable Energy Valleys in Europe, REFORMERS contributes to the goals of REpowerEU to:
- increase the production of renewable energy;
- increase the diversification and applicability of renewable energy carriers;
- reduce dependence on fossil energy sources.
Facts
Start date: 1 November 2023
End date: 31 October 2028
Total budget: €19.649.625
NEC budget: €1.712.500
The project is receiving funding from the European research and innovation program Horizon Europe under Grant Agreement number 101136211.
Description
A future-proof, affordable, supply-secure and sustainable energy system is not one-dimensional. In this energy system there is a place for different renewable energy carriers which are optimally integrated with each other.
REFORMERS will develop and realize Europe’s first Renewable Energy Valley in a defined area between Alkmaar and Heiloo. This Flagship Valley of consists of business park Boekelermeer, bordered on the north side by a densely populated residential area, a residential area on the west side, a light industrial area in Heiloo and an agricultural area on the east side. By the end of the project, the area will be self-sufficient in the production and consumption of its own energy needs through renewable energy. REFORMERS’ Flagship Valley is characterized by the presence of existing natural gas infrastructure, a bioenergy power plant the Energy Innovation Park Alkmaar to promote renewable energy innovations. Through five functional blocks, called Renewable Energy Valley Tracks (REVTs), the Flagship Valley will:
- demonstrate renewable energy production technologies
- produce, convert, store, distribute and apply renewable energy carriers such as biomethane, electricity, hydrogen and heat
- replace the use of fossil fuels for end users
- monitor and optimally control energy flows
- bring together financial, legal and social dimensions
- contribute to Alkmaar’s overall mission of using 100% renewable energy by 2050.
The developments within the Flagship Valley will be closely followed by six ‘Replication Valleys’ across Europe. These valleys will use the lessons learned from the Flagship Valley and replicate its successful strategies to create their own Renewable Energy Valley. Finally, REFORMERS will develop, test and operate a toolbox and a digital twin to identify and continuously improve the best solutions towards self-sufficient energy valleys.
Our role
New Energy Coalition is the Flagship Valley Coordinator in Alkmaar in which it provides coordination to the Flagship Valley ecosystem to demonstrate the several energy innovations. In addition, New Energy Coalition plays a strong role in replicating and exploiting the knowledge gained and successful experiences to other Renewable Energy Valleys.
Partners
The consortium consists of 28 parties from 10 different countries:
AIT, Sustainable Heiloo, CERTH, CIRCE, KONIN-MIASTO, DDS, EUREC, NAPE, RISE, TNO, Deep Blue, Municipality of Andorra (S), TU Delft, Municipality of Kozani (GR), Municipality of Murau (O), Alliander, Municipality of Alkmaar, HVC, Hynoca Alkmaar, InVesta, Sustenso Boekelermeer, Repowered, Withthegrid, NXT MOBILITY, STOFF2, EMPA, VU Brussels (Project Coordinator) and New Energy Coalition (Flagship Valley Coordinator).
